Mental health and emotion regulation in autistic adults
Mental Health in Autistic Adults: An RDoC Approach
This project will track emotions, behavior, and body-signals over two weeks in autistic and non-autistic adults to learn what precedes suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and impulsive aggression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121008 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a small ambulatory sensor and answer short smartphone surveys for 14 days while researchers continuously record heart-rate-related signals to capture sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. The team will enroll about 200 autistic adults and 100 non-autistic adults, with extra enrollment of people who have had recent suicidal thoughts or self-injury. Data will combine your momentary self-reports, observable behavior, and physiological signals to see how emotion dysregulation shows up across everyday contexts. The goal is to understand which patterns in daily life raise short-term risk for crises so future supports can be timed and targeted.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Autistic adults age 21 and older (including older adults) who can consent, use a smartphone for brief surveys, and wear a small ambulatory sensor—particularly those with recent suicidal thoughts, self-injury, or impulsive aggression.
Not a fit: People younger than 21, those unable to use a smartphone or wear the sensor, or those without emotion-related difficulties may not be eligible or likely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify real-life warning signs and timing for interventions to prevent suicidal behavior and self-injury in autistic adults.
How similar studies have performed: Similar ecological momentary assessment and wearable-monitoring approaches have shown promise in other psychiatric groups, but applying them specifically to autistic adults is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bylsma, Lauren M — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Bylsma, Lauren M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.